Pack of rigid type for tobacco products

ABSTRACT

A pack of rigid type with a hinged lid for tobacco products comprises a cupped container ( 3; 26 ) presenting a front face ( 8 ) and two flank faces ( 10 ) of which the free edges ( 8   a   , 10   a ) combine to establish an open end ( 4 ) of the container, also a reinforcing frame ( 15 ) secured to the container ( 3; 26 ), presenting a breast piece ( 16 ), two side pieces ( 17 ) and a top edge ( 18 ) of U profile directed toward the lid ( 5; 27 ). The lid ( 5; 27 ) likewise is cupped, presenting a front face ( 11 ) and two flank faces ( 13 ) with respective free edges ( 11   a   , 13   a ), and closes the open end ( 4 ) of the container ( 3; 26 ). A coupon ( 19 ) is included in the pack, between the frame ( 15 ) and the tobacco products. With the lid ( 5; 27 ) occupying the closed position, the free edges ( 8   a   , 11   a ) presented by the front faces ( 8, 11 ) respectively of the container ( 3; 26 ) and of the lid ( 5; 27 ) are separated one from the other by a given distance to create an opening ( 20 ) partially exposing the breast piece ( 16 ) of the frame ( 15 ), which in turn presents at least one window ( 23 ) serving to reveal at least one portion ( 24 ) of the coupon ( 19 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a pack of rigid type for tobaccoproducts.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the following specification, the term “pack” can be taken tomean both a carton containing a plurality of packets of cigarettes, anda single packet containing a group of cigarettes or tobacco products ingeneral.

[0003] Rigid packs of the type in question are fashioned generally fromrespective flat precreased diecut blanks, the single pack comprising acontainer and a lid which, in the case of the packet in particular, isattached hingedly to a rear edge of the container in such a way as toenclose an open end of the selfsame container, also a reinforcing framedisposed partly inside the container and secured thus internally to afront face and to two flank faces of the selfsame container.

[0004] It is increasingly the practice to print advertisements, messagesand other written matter on the outer surface of these packs, addressedto the consumer, which must be placed clearly in view, expressed in thelanguage of the various countries where the product is sold and,moreover, customized on a case by case basis to ensure conformity withnational statutory requirements in different countries.

[0005] In certain countries it is also normal for the price of theproduct to be printed on the outer surface of the pack and, especiallyin those countries where changes in price are frequent due tosignificant inflationary factors, the written matter printed on the packmust often be changed and adapted in response to market conditions.

[0006] All this dictates that the diecut blanks used to fashion thepacks must be differentiated from country to country, and even for eachindividual country, with resulting high inventory and production costs.

[0007] It is also the practice to manufacture packs of the type inquestion furnished internally with inserts, namely cards, coupons andthe like, bearing written and pictorial images addressed to theconsumer.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to avoid the use ofdifferent blanks, since the blank represents the most costly part of thepack, adopting a single standard blank for all countries and utilizingthe inserts as the background on which to print the advertisements,messages and other written matter addressed to the consumer.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The stated object is realized according to the present inventionin a pack of rigid type with a hinged lid for tobacco products,comprising a container of cupped embodiment presenting a bottom end faceand a rear race, also a front face and two flank faces of which the freeedges define an open end of the selfsame container; a reinforcing framepresenting a breast piece and two side pieces associated respectivelywith the front face and flank faces of the container, projecting partlyfrom the open end of the container and delimited uppermost by an edge ofU profile directed toward the lid; the lid likewise of cupped embodimentand presenting a top end face, a front face and two flank faces withrespective free edges, and a rear face connected by way of a hinge lineto the rear face of the container, rotatable thus between an openposition and a position of interaction with the frame in which the openend of the container is closed; and a coupon located between the frameand the tobacco products, characterized in that, with the lid occupyingthe closed position, at least one part of the free edge afforded by theopen end of the container and a part of the free edge of the lid areseparated one from the other by a predetermined distance so as to createan opening that serves to expose at least one void portion of the frameserving in turn to reveal at least one corresponding portion of thecoupon.

[0010] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example,with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a packet of cigarettesaccording to the present invention, viewed schematically and inperspective;

[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a packet of cigarettesaccording to the present invention, viewed schematically and inperspective;

[0013] FIGS. 3 to 8 illustrate respective further embodiments of thepackets of cigarettes illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed schematicallyand in perspective;

[0014]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate two possible embodiments of rigidcartons for packets of cigarettes according to the present invention,viewed schematically and in perspective;

[0015]FIG. 11 illustrates a third embodiment of a packet of cigarettesaccording to the present invention, viewed schematically and inperspective.

[0016] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 denotes a packfor tobacco products, in its entirety, consisting more exactly in arigid packet 2 intended to contain a group of cigarettes (notillustrated), comprising a container 3 of cupped embodiment affording anopen top end 4, surmounted by a lid 5 likewise of cupped embodiment,hinged to the container 3 along a relative hinge line 6 and rotatablethus between an open position (not illustrated), and a position in whichthe top end 4 is closed.

[0017] The container 3 presents a bottom end face 7, a front face 8, arear face 9 and two flank faces 10, of which the front face 8 and flankfaces 10 present respective free top edges 8 a and 10 a defining theopen top end 4, that is to say the end directed toward the lid 5, whichin like manner presents a front face 11, a rear face 12, two flank faces13 and a top end face 14.

[0018] The front face 11 and flank faces 13 of the lid 5 presentrespective free edges 11 a and 13 a defining an open end offered to thecontainer 3 when the selfsame lid 5 is in the closed position.

[0019] The single packet 2 accommodates an inner wrapper (notillustrated) enveloping a group of cigarettes, and is furnished with areinforcing frame 15, interposed between the packet 2 and the innerwrapper and secured thus to the container 3. The frame 15 comprises aportion 15 a located internally of the container 3 and a portion 15 bprojecting externally of the container from the open top end 4.

[0020] More exactly, the frame 15 is composed of a breast piece 16located partly in contact with the inside of the front face 8 of thecontainer 3, and two side pieces 17 secured in part to the insides ofthe flank faces 10 of the container 3.

[0021] The breast piece 16 of the frame 15 is delimited uppermost by anedge 18 of “U” outline disposed with the concave profile directed towardthe lid 5.

[0022] Lastly, each packet 2 is furnished with a coupon 19 interposedbetween the frame 15 and the inner wrapper. More exactly, the coupon 19is positioned below the breast piece 16 of the frame 15 and partly incontact with the inside of the front face 8 of the container 3, in sucha way that its top end extends beyond the top edge 18 of the frame 15.

[0023] In the example of FIG. 1, where the hinged lid 5 occupies theposition in which the open top end 4 of the container 3 is enclosed, thetwo flank edges 13 a of the lid 5 are disposed in contact with the flankedges 10 a of the container 3, whilst the edge 11 a presented by thefront face 11 of the lid 5 is separated by a given distance from theedge 8 a presented by the front face 8 of the container 3, in such a wayas to create an opening 20 compassed peripherally by the edge 11 a ofthe front face 11 of the lid 5, the edge 8 a of the front face 8 of thecontainer 3, and two cuts 21 made along the top part of each corner edge22 bordering the front face 8.

[0024] The opening 20 serves to expose a given area of the breast piece16 presented by the frame 15, which exhibits a plurality of windows 23consisting in respective void portions of the frame 15 positioned toreveal corresponding portions 24 of the coupon 19 bearing written andpictorial matter addressed to the consumer, thereby obviating the needto print such matter directly on the packet 2.

[0025] In the example of FIG. 2, the opening 20 is positioned tocoincide with the top edge 18 of “U” outline presented by the frame 15,which therefore is not pierced with windows 23 as in the example of FIG.1; instead, the void portion of the frame 15 is compassed between thetop edge 18 of the frame 15 and the free edge 11 a presented by thefront face 11 of the lid 5 when the lid occupies the position enclosingthe open top end 4 of the container 3.

[0026] Likewise in this instance the void portion of the frame 15 ispositioned to expose corresponding portions 24 of the coupon 19 bearingwritten and pictorial matter addressed to the consumer, therebyobviating the need to print such matter directly on the packet 2.

[0027] In both of the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening20 presents the appearance substantially of a rectangle referable to anaxis extending parallel with the hinge line 6.

[0028] The examples of FIGS. 3 to 8 are variations on the example ofFIG. 1. FIG. 3, in particular, illustrates a curved opening 20 generatedas a band in the form of an arc to a circle compassed between edges 8 aand 11 a extending mutually parallel and generated each likewise as anarc to a circle; the window 23 consists in a single void appearing as anarcuate slot.

[0029] The example of FIG. 4 illustrates an opening 20 of substantiallyrectangular appearance referable to an axis extending skew relative tothe hinge line 6, compassed between edges 8 a and 11 a extendingmutually parallel and skew likewise in relation to the hinge line 6,whilst the frame 15 presents a plurality of windows 23, for example ofsubstantially quadrangular outline.

[0030] The example of FIG. 5 illustrates an opening 20 of Vee-shapedappearance compassed between edges 8 a and 11 a extending mutuallyparallel and likewise of Vee shape; the window 23 might also present aVee shape, by way of example.

[0031] The example of FIG. 6 illustrates an opening 20 of substantiallymultiangular geometry compassed between edges 8 a and 11 a extendingmutually parallel and likewise of multiangular geometry; the windows 23might be of triangular outline, by way of example.

[0032] The example of FIG. 7 illustrates an opening 20 of substantiallymultiangular geometry compassed between edges 8 a and 11 a that do notextend parallel one with another. In particular, the one edge 11 aextends parallel to the hinge line 6 and the other edge 8 a appearssubstantially as a chevron with a rounded vertex directed toward thefirst edge 11 a. The opening 20 exposes a single window 23 in the breastpiece 16 of the frame 15, of which the outline is, by way of example,substantially identical to that of the opening 20.

[0033] The example of FIG. 8 illustrates an opening 20 of substantiallyundulating appearance compassed between edges 8 a and 11 a extendingmutually parallel and likewise of undulating appearance. In thisinstance the window 23 in the breast piece 16 of the frame 15 presentsan undulating outline substantially identical to that of the opening 20.

[0034] In the examples of FIGS. 9 and 10, the packs 1 consist in rigidcartons 25 serving to contain a plurality of packets 2 of cigarettes.The geometry of the cartons 25 is similar in all respects to that of thepackets 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and accordingly, the componentparts are denoted where possible by the same reference numbers as usedto denote the corresponding parts of the packets 2.

[0035] The single carton 25 comprises a container 26 surmounted by a lid27, hinged to the container along a relative hinge line 6 and rotatablethus between an open position (not illustrated) and a position in whichthe open top end 4 of the container 26 is closed, also a reinforcingframe 15 secured to the container 26, comprising a portion 15 a locatedinternally of the container 26 and a portion 15 b projecting externallyof the container 26, from the open top end 4, toward the lid 27.

[0036] The breast piece 16 of the frame 15 is delimited uppermost by anedge 18 of ““U” outline disposed with the concave profile directedtoward the lid 27.

[0037] Lastly, the single carton 25 is furnished with a coupon 19interposed between the frame 15 and the packets 2. More exactly, thecoupon 19 is positioned below the breast piece 16 of the frame 15 andpartly in contact with the inside of the front face 8 of the container26, in such a way that its top end extends beyond the top edge 18 of theframe 15.

[0038] Recalling the description already given with reference to thepackets 2, the carton 25 illustrated in FIG. 9 appears with the lid 27occupying the position in which the container 26 is closed. The flankedges 13 a of the lid 27 are disposed in contact with the flank edges 10a of the container 26, whilst the edge 11 a presented by the front face11 of the lid 27 is separated by a predetermined distance from the edge8 a presented by the front face 8 of the container 26 in such a way asto create an opening 20 compassed peripherally by the edge 11 a of thelid 27, the edge 8 a of the front face 8 of the container 26, and twocuts 21 made along the top part of each corner edge 22 bordering thefront face 8. The opening 20 serves to expose a given area of the breastpiece 16 presented by the frame 15, which exhibits a plurality ofwindows 23 consisting in respective void portions of the frame 15positioned to reveal corresponding portions 24 of the coupon 19 bearingwritten and pictorial matter addressed to the consumer, therebyobviating the need to print such matter directly on the carton 25.

[0039] In the example of FIG. 10, the opening 20 is positioned tocoincide with the top edge 18 of “U” outline presented by the frame 15,which therefore is not pierced with windows 23 as in the example of FIG.9; instead, the void portion of the frame 15 is compassed between thetop edge 18 of the frame 15 and the free edge 11 a presented by thefront face 11 of the lid 27 when the lid occupies the position enclosingthe top end of the container 26. Likewise in this instance the voidportion of the frame 15 is positioned to expose corresponding portions24 of the coupon 19 bearing written and pictorial matter addressed tothe consumer, thereby obviating the need to print such matter directlyon the carton 25.

[0040] Whilst in both of the examples illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 theopening 20 presents the appearance substantially of a rectanglereferable to an axis extending parallel with the hinge line 6, it willbe evident that all the embodiments of the opening 20 illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 8 are applicable to packet 2 and carton 25 alike.

[0041] The packet 2 shown in the example of FIG. 11 is similar to thepacket 2 of FIG. 1 in terms of geometry, but with the difference thatthe coupon 19 is interposed between the breast piece 16 of the frame 15and the insides of the front face 8 of the container 3 and the frontface 11 of the lid 5. In this instance there is no need for the windows23 in the frame 15 since the opening 20 compassed between the two freeedges 8 a and 11 a of the front faces will reveal at least the portion24 of the coupon 19 of interest to the consumer.

1) A pack of rigid type with a hinged lid for tobacco products,typically a pack (1) comprising a container (3; 26) of cupped embodimentpresenting a bottom end face (7) and a rear race (9), also a front face(8) and two flank faces (10) of which the free edges (8 a, 10 a) definean open end (4) of the selfsame container (3; 26); a reinforcing frame(15) presenting a breast piece (16) and two side pieces (17) associatedrespectively with the front face (8) and flank faces (10) of thecontainer (3; 26), projecting partly from the open end (4) of thecontainer (3;26) and delimited uppermost by an edge (18) of U profiledirected toward the lid (5; 27); the lid (5; 27) likewise of cuppedembodiment and presenting a top end face (14), a front face (11) and twoflank faces (13) with respective free edges (11 a, 13 a), and a rearface (12) connected by way of a hinge line (6) to the rear face (9) ofthe container (3; 26), rotatable thus between an open position and aposition of interaction with the frame (15) in which the open end (4) ofthe container is closed (3; 26); and a coupon (19) located between theframe (15) and the tobacco products, characterized in that, with the lid(5; 27) occupying the closed position, at least one part of the freeedge (8 a) afforded by the open end (4) of the container (3; 26) and apart of the free edge (11 a) of the lid (5; 27) are separated one fromthe other by a predetermined distance so as to create an opening (20)that serves to expose at least one void portion of the frame (15)serving in turn to reveal at least one corresponding portion (24) of thecoupon (19). 2) A pack as in claim 1, wherein the void portion consistsin an area compassed between a part of the free edge (11 a) presented bythe front face (11) of the lid (5; 27) and the uppermost edge (18) of Uprofile presented by the breast piece (16) of the frame (15). 3) A packas in claim 1, wherein the void portion consists in at least one window(23) pierced in the breast piece (16) of the frame (15). 4) A pack ofrigid type with a hinged lid for tobacco products, typically a pack (1)comprising a container (3; 26) of cupped embodiment presenting a bottomend face (7) and a rear race (9), also a front face (8) and two flankfaces (10) of which the free edges (8 a, 10 a) define an open end (4) ofthe selfsame container (3; 26); a reinforcing frame (15) presenting abreast piece (16) and two side pieces (17) associated respectively withthe front face (8) and flank faces (10) of the container (3; 26),projecting partly from the open end (4) of the container and delimiteduppermost by an edge (18) of U profile directed toward the lid (5; 27);the lid (5; 27) likewise of cupped embodiment and presenting a top endface (14), a front face (11) and two flank faces (13) with respectivefree edges (11 a, 13 a), and a rear face (12) connected by way of ahinge line (6) to the rear face (9) of the container (3; 26), rotatablethus between an open position and a position of interaction with theframe (15) in which the open end (4) of the container is closed (3; 26),characterized in that it comprises a coupon (19) interposed between thebreast piece (16) of the frame (15) and the inside of the front face (8)presented by the container (3; 26), and in that with the lid (5; 27)occupying the closed position, at least one part of the free edge (8 a)afforded by the open end (4) of the container (3; 26) and a part of thefree edge (11 a) of the lid (5; 27) are separated one from the other bya predetermined distance so as to create an opening (20) that serves toreveal at least one corresponding portion (24) of the coupon (19). 5) Apack as in claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening (20) appears as asubstantially rectangular band aligned on an axis extending parallelwith the hinge line (6). 6) A pack as in claims 1 to 4, wherein theopening (20) appears as a curved band aligned on an arc to a circle andwith parallel edges (8 a, 11 a). 7) A pack as in claims 1 to 4, whereinthe opening (20) appears as a Vee-shaped band with parallel edges (8 a,11 a). 8) A pack as in claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening (20) appearsas a substantially rectangular band aligned on an axis extending skewrelative to the hinge line (6). 9) A pack as in claims 1 to 4, whereinthe opening (20) appears as a substantially undulating band withparallel edges (8 a, 11 a). 10) A pack as in claims 1 to 4, wherein theopening (20) appears as a substantially multiangular band with paralleledges (8 a, 11 a). 11) A pack as in claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening(20) appears as a substantially multiangular band with non-paralleledges (8 a, 11 a). 12) A pack as in claims 1 to 11, wherein the tobaccoproducts consist in a plurality of packets (2) of cigarettes and thepack (1) is a carton (25). 13) A pack as in claims 1 to 11, wherein thetobacco products consist in a group of cigarettes, and the pack (1) is apacket (2) of cigarettes.